How To Play Seven Card Stud

The dealer shuffles and cuts the deck of cards.

Each player “antes up” by placing an amount predetermined by the dealer into the pot.

The dealer deals around three times, distributing a card at a time to each player, for a total of three cards each. The first two cards—called “hole cards”—are dealt face-down; the third card—called a “door card”—is dealt face-up.

The dealer announces the lowest card showing, and a round of betting follows, opened by the player holding the lowest card and proceeding clockwise to his or her left. The opening bet is called a “bring in” and is usually a small, nominal amount.

The dealer deals a fourth card—called “fourth street” or “the turn”—face-up to each player. The dealer announces the highest card or hand showing and a round of betting follows, started by the player holding that high card or hand and proceeding clockwise to his or her left.

The dealer deals a fifth card—called “fifth street”—face-up to each player. The dealer announces the highest card or hand showing and betting again follows, started by the holder of that high card or hand and proceeding clockwise to his or her left.

The dealer deals a sixth card—called “sixth street”—face-up to each player. The dealer announces the high card or hand and betting again follows, started by the holder of that high card or hand and proceeding clockwise to his or her left.

The dealer deals the final card—called “seventh street” or “the river”—face-down to each player. The dealer announces the highest card or hand showing and a final round of betting occurs, started by the holder of that high card or hand and proceeding clockwise to his or her left.

When the betting has stopped, every player still in the game turns their hand face-up, starting with the dealer. The player holding the best five-card poker hand wins the game.